Article sterilizing device



Sep 7, 1940- M. M. WERNER ARTICLE STERILIZING DEVICE 3 sheets sheet 1Filed May 4. 1939 @H m E- INVENTOR Y a yaw m ATTORNEYS Sept. 17, 1940.M. M. WERNER 2,214,946

ARTICLE STERILIZING DEVICE Filed May 4, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FEWINVENTOR P 17, 1940- M. M. WERNER 2,214,946

ARTICLE STERILIZING DEVICE Filed May 4, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 55 (57 ZINVENTOR ATT RNEYS Patented Sept. 17, 1940 UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE"2,214,946 I ARTICLE. STERILIZIN G DEVICE Mack M. Werner, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application May 4, 1939,-Serial No. 271,674

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in sterilizing andsterilized storing means, and more particularly to such improvements inportable, collapsible heating and storing devices for sterilizinghypodermic syringes, needles and instruments in boiling liquid and forstoring and protecting the instruments or contents of the sterilizer ina sterilized state.

Objectsand advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part will beobvious herefrom, or may be learned bypractice with the invention, the same being realized and attained bymeans of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together withthe description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

I Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical, longitudinal section through a device embodyingthe invention showing the device in, sterilized position;

'Fig. 2 is an end view but showing the device in closed or collapsedposition;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail on line 3--3 of Fig. 1; c

Fig. 4. is a horizontal section on line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on line 5-5 of Fig. '1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, vertical section, corresponding to theleft-hand end of Fig. 1 but showing the parts in closed or collapsedposition;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation, with parts broken away of a modified formof the invention;

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the cover and drainage tray shown in Fig.7; and

Fig. 9 is a section on line 99 of Fig. 8. Objects of the invention areto provide a portable, compact and simple device for sterilizinghypodermic needles, syringes and small medical instruments and storingthem in protected sterilized condition ready for instantaneous use; toprovide such a device wherein a needle or needles and the disassembledplungers and barrels of hypodermic syringes may be placed in liquid in achamber, the liquid quickly heated, thereby sterilizing the'hypodermicarticles, the sterilizing liquid drained off and the sterilized articlesretained in the chamber, the sterilized condition being retained andprotected, with the devices ready for instantaneous use on simplyopening the chamher; to provide a device of the character describedwhich is of simple structure, and is rendered exceedingly compact andportable by reason of cer- 5 tain .parts'being extensible andcollapsible between a closed or packed position and an operating orsterilizing position. To these ends a shallow, elongated chamber forholding heating fluid and having wick-holding means, and a superposedelongated chamber for holding a sterilizing fluid are slidable between aposition in contact with each other and a spaced-apart position in whichthe flame heats the sterilizing liquid. The sterilizing chamber has adrain for drawing on the liquid after sterilization, a lid giving accessto the top of the chamber and devices for clamping the lid substantiallysealed, so as to protect the sterilized hypodermic devices within. Theforegoing general description and the following detailed description aswell are exemplary and explanatory but are not restrictive of theinvention. Referring now in detail to the embodiment of the inventionillustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, a chamber isprovided for holding the heating fluid, said chamber being of shallow,elongated, and preferably of fiat, rectangular form servingas a base forthe device. This chamber has a bottom I, side walls 2 and 3, end walls 5and 6, and a flat top 4. The bottom I has a turned-down edge adjoiningthe sides to provide support along the side edges. Centrally of the topplate 4 of this chamber and recessed below the plane thereof is awick-supporting device 8, holding the wick w in position to create aheating flame I when the sterilizing fluid is being heated. A screw cap9 enclosesthe wick and seals the chamber when the flame is not burning.A plug 9 is screw-threaded into a fuel-supplying opening.

- The chamber for holding the sterilizing liquid and for storing thesterilized instruments is llKewise an elongated chamber l0; preferablyrectangular, is supported from and above the heating liquid chamber, ismovable into contact therewith for packing in the inoperative position,and is maintained in spaced-apart position above the flame during theheating and sterilizing operation. Said chamber comprises a flat bottomplate ll, side walls l2 and I3, and end walls l4 and I5. 50 The'top ofthe chamber is a lid l8, hinged to the side i3 by hinges I. The lid'hason its under side, and extending all the way around just within itsedges a turned-over metal lip 2|, adapted to fit tightly within theturned-over up- 5.5

per edges of the side walls and end walls of the chamber, making ineffect an airtight seal. Means are provided for clamping the lid 88 inclosed position to guard against accidental open ing thereof whereby thesterilized condition of contained .devices might be impaired ordestroyed. As embodied, at either end of the chamber a looped ball orhook 24 of stiff wire is pivotally mounted at 25 in a pivot plate 26,which plate is fastened to the side wall of the chamber. These bails orhooks are movable between the broken-line, withdrawn positions and thefull line, clamping positions in Fig. 1.

Means are provided for drawing off the heated sterilizing fluid aftersterilization has been effected, and for this purpose a screw-plug-3l isscrew threaded into the side wall l5 of the ster ilizing chamber closeto the bottom of-the chamber. This-plug has within it an angled aperture82, and when the plug is screwed outwardly the liquid will drainoff'through this passage, but when the plug is screwed home it providesan airtight seal. The drainage opening 32 is so small as to practicallyobviate danger of infection to the devices in the chamber duringdrainage. Further, sterilization will be maintained during drainage dueto the presence of hot steam and vapor in the chamber. Thus thesterilized device may be kept in the chamber after boiling, remainingpractically indefinitely in a sterilized condition after the water isdrawn off. Preferably the devices to be sterilized are wrapped in gauzein the chamber to facilitate handling and sterile removal. This featureof the invention enables the user to boil articles at his convenienceand transport them in sterile condition ready for immediate use.

The embodied form of supporting means for the sterilizing chamber, whichpermits the expanding and collapsible action, comprises cylindrical rods34 and 35 which are fastened to the top plate l of the heating fluidchamber, and extend upwardly therefrom. These rods extend within twoclosed tubes 38 and S9, conveniently located within the sterilizingchamber. Automatically operating devices are provided whereby when thetwo chambers are drawn apart they will be positioned in the heating andsterilizing position, and by merely pushing them together, they willmove into contact in the collapsed or packed position. As embodied, thisdevice comprises a notch ll formed in the upper part of each of the rods34 and 35"(Figs. 1, 3 and 6) with which cooperates an inwardly-bent andup wardly-extending resilient tongue d2, formed in the inner side of thecorresponding tube 33 or 39. When the sterilizing chamber is pushedupwardly these tongues will snap into the notches and will hold thechamber inthe elevated posit ion, but when the device is pushed togetherthese tongues will yield and permit the device to close.

A skirting plate 45 is fixed to and extends downwardly from the bottomsof the side walls and end walls of the sterilizing chamber, and servesto retain the hot gases against the bottom plate ll of the chamber toconserve the heat and expedite the heating. A corresponding flange 46 isfixed to and extends upwardly from the top edges of the side walls andend walls of the heating fluid chamber, and when the two chambers arepushed together, the skirt 45 and the flange 46 constitute a box-lidclosure (Fig. 6), entirely closing the device and holding theparts-firmly together. The flange 45 2,214,946 Q. V I

is positioned to permit the tubes 38 and 39 to close down as shown inFig. 6.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9 is shown a modification in which means are providedfor removing sterilized articles from the hot water in chamber l withoutrequiring the user to put his fingers or instruments into the Water. Asembodied, the chamber Ill is provided with a removable cover or lid 50which is not hinged to the chamber but is adapted to be lifted bodilyaway therefrom as by a handle or ball pivotally connected to the lid bya stud 52. The lid 50 may be tightly sealed to the top of the chamberwhile in use by the fastening bails or latches 24 heretofore described.A supplementary drainage tray 55 is attached to the inner surface of thelid by suspending chains 56 which are preferably attached, one at eachcorner of the rectangular tray 55. The length of the chains is such thatwhen the lid 55 is in place, the bottom of the tray rests loosely on thebottom ll of the chamber ID.

The bottom 51 of tray 56 is perforated, pref.

erably throughout, so that it will settle through the water in thechamber and may be easily lifted from the bottom when the lid 50 iselevated. Thereby articles, such as hypodermic syringe parts, may betaken from the boiling water merely by lifting the cover 5|] and raisingthe tray above the level of the Water. If desired, the tray may beprovided with one .or more spring clips 58 for the purpose of holdingsyringe plungers, barrels, needle hubs, and the like.

It will be understood that the above-described modification is useablewith the device as shown and described in connection with Figs. 1 to 6,said modification being particularly helpful where the sterilizedarticles are to be removed from the hot water at once, as when it is notconvenient to drain out the water through the aperture 32. introducingthe articles to be sterilized into the tank of Water.

If desired, a perforated tray may also be at.- tached to the form of lidshown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which case the inner perforate tray ishingedly connected to the lid so that when the lid is closed the trayand contents are immersed in the water, while raising the lid causes thetray to rise above the liquid level within the chamber ill. a

The invention in its broader aspects is not lim ited to the specificmechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefromwithin the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from theprinciples of the invention and. without sacriflcing its chiefadvanother between a collapsed storagepositionand:

a spaced-apart liquid heating position, means for drawing the heatedliquid from the liquidholding chamber after sterilization and means fortightly closing the liquid holding chamber to maintain an enclosedcondition.

2. An extensible and collapsible sterilizing and sterilized storagedevice comprising a chamber for holding a sterilizing liquid in whichanarti- It is also an added convenience in' article in sterilized cle isimmersed, a chamber for holding a heating fluid and having flameproducing means, a heatretaining flange extending downwardly about thebottom of said sterilizing chamber, means for moving said chamberstoward and from each other between a collapsed storage position and aspaced-apart liquid heating position, means for drawing the heatedliquid from the liquidholding chamber after sterilization and means fortightly closing the liquid holding chamber to maintain an enclosedarticle in sterilized condition.

3. An extensible and collapsible sterilizing and sterilized storagedevice comprising a chamber for holding a sterilizing liquid in which anarticle is immersed, a chamber for holding a heating fluid and havingflame producing means, a heatretaining flange extending downwardly aboutthe bottom of said sterilizing chamber, means for moving said chamberstoward and from each other between a collapsed storage position and aspaced-apart liquid heating position, means for drawing the heatedliquid from the liquid-holding chamber after sterilization and means fortightly closing the liquid holding chamber to maintain an enclosedarticle in sterilized condition, a flange extending upwardly about thetop of said heating fluid chamber, one of said-flanges nesting closelywithin the other to hold the two or moved apart into sterilizingposition, means for drawing the heated fluid from said sterilizingchamber after sterilization, a lid for said sterilizing chamber andmeans for clamping down the lid to maintain the chamber closed toprotect an enclosed needle in sterilized condition.

5. An extensible and collapsible sterilizing and sterilized storagedevice for hypodermic needles comprising a flat shallow chamber forholding heating fluid and having wick-holding meansin its upper surface,a chamber for holding a sterilizing fluid in which a needle is immersed,means permanently connecting said chambers and having reciprocablemembers for permitting the chambers to be closed together for storage orspaced apart for heating, means for drawing the heated fluid from saidsterilizing chamber after sterilization, a lid for said sterilizingchamber and means for clamping down the lid to maintain the chamberclosed to protect an enclosed needle in sterilized condition. I

6. An extensible and collapsible sterilizing and sterilized storagedevice for hypodermic needles comprising a flat shallow chamber forholding heating fluid and having wick-holding means in its uppersurface, supports fixed to and extending upwardly from said heatingfluid chamber, a chamber for holding-a sterilizing fluid in which aneedle is immersed, means for movably supporting said sterilizingchamber on said supports permitting the chamber to be moved into packingposition or moved apart into sterilizing position, means for maintainingsaid sterilizing chamber in said spaced relationship, a downwardlyextending heat-retaining flange on the bottom of said sterilizingchamber, means for drawing the heated liquid from the sterilizingchamber after sterilization and means for tightly closing thesterilizing chamber to maintain an enclosed needle in sterilizedcondition.

'7. An extensible and collapsible sterilizing and sterilized storagedevice for hypodermic needles comprising a flat shallow chamber forholding heating fluid and having wick-holding means in its uppersurface, a chamber for holding a sterilizing fluid in which a needle isimmersed, means permanently connecting said chambers and havingreciprocable members for permitting the chambers to be closed togetherfor storage or spaced apart for heating, means for maintaining saidsterilizing chamber in said spaced relationship, a downwardly extendingheat-retaining flange on the bottom of said sterilizing chamber, meansfor drawing the heated liquid from the sterilizing chamber aftersterilization and means for tightly closing the sterilizing chamber tomaintain an enclosed needle in sterilized condition, said closing meanshaving movably connected thereto a foraminous member for holding theneedles in the liquid during heating and to withdraw them from theliquid when the sterilizing chamber is opened.

MACK M. WERNER.

